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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






2. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






3. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1800's and lasted about sixty years. There was a strong regard for order and balance.






4. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






5. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






6. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






7. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






8. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






9. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






10. Refers to any great composer - conductor - or teacher of music.






11. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






12. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






13. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






14. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






15. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






16. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






17. A group of 4 instruments - two violins - a viola - and cello.






18. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






19. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






20. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






21. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






22. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






23. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






24. A repeated phrase.






25. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






26. A set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts.






27. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






28. A short or brief sonata.






29. A direction to play expressively.






30. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






31. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






32. Pertaining to the sonata form - a fast movement in triple time.






33. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






34. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






35. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






36. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






37. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






38. A system of notation for stringed instruments. The notes are indicated by the finger positions.






39. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






40. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






41. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






42. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






43. Groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord.






44. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






45. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






46. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






47. A person with notable technical skill in the performance of music.






48. Indicating speed.






49. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






50. Movement or passage that concludes the musical composition.